...at least according to the himself incredibly talented Glasgow Phillips, whose terrific book The Royal Nonesuch I recommended a few days ago.
If you don't believe me check out his post Thomas Rigler is Clearly a Genius on The Royal Nonesuch blog, a destination well worth a visit.
Also check out this vintage edition of Backdoor Hollywood featuring Phillips as the host of a tiki-themed movie review show.
In a novel approach to both online advertising and original content distribution, Google announced a new project with Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the animated series Family Guy. The web-only series entitled Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy will be distributed exclusively through Google AdSense.
An article by Brooks Barnes in the New York Times today outlines the innovative plan:
Google will syndicate the program using its AdSense advertising system to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be gathering spots for Mr. MacFarlane’s target audience, typically young men. Instead of placing a static ad on a Web page, Google will place a “Cavalcade” video clip.
Almost too subversive to be true: This could be a very effective way to get original content seen and monetize at the same time. Google calls the new service Google Content Network.
Advertising will be incorporated into the clips in varying ways. In some cases, there will be “preroll” ads, which ask viewers to sit through a TV-style commercial before getting to the video. Some advertisers may opt for a banner to be placed at the bottom of the video clip or a simple “brought to you by” note at the beginning.
Creator Seth MacFarlane receives a percentage of the ad revenue as part of his deal.
But the partnership with Mr. MacFarlane represents a bold step into the distribution business, one that, if successful, will surely send shock waves through the entertainment business. “Cavalcade” is not only from a high-profile Hollywood talent, but also carries a multimillion-dollar production price tag, by far the largest amount spent on original Internet content to date.
General consensus in our industry is that the most influential book published on convergent business models was last year's The Long Tail by Chris Anderson. A loyal fan and long tail evangelist myself, I recently re-evaluated my position and am hereby nominating a new contender for that precious title.
The Royal Nonesuch, written by Glasgow Phillips, is the memoir of a true multi-hyphen cross platform creative type of the sort only the Dotcom era could have produced. Seems like Phillips did it all, and years before it became hip and fashionable: Washed up novelist, indie director, rehab, Internet entrepreneur, TV writer for South Park and the list goes on.
Reading about the author's adventures on his way to adulthood (the sub-title is...Or what will I do when I grow up) comes from the same state of mind that made Dave Eggars A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius so compelling: It's an incredibly funny, well written, tell-all style memoir that doesn't shy away from stupidity and suffering...even more so it actually finds a way to make the painful moments resonate personally. And this book isn't only about real people you'd want to know, but in the case of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, people you've at least heard of.
What does any of this have to do with the Dotcom era: Glasgow Phillips apparently participated in initiatives that still impact our industry: His tales of running a branding agency dedicated to names and tag lines sound eerily familiar when considering today's intuitive witch doctors active in product branding and viral marketing. Hustling with Hollywood producers for breadcrumb budgets is more than just a familiar notion.
Phillips' countless failed and successful attempts at crossing the bridge between VC capital, television, Internet video and Hollywood may have been chaotic and sometimes ill-advised during the 1990's heyday. In a way, though, we've all been growing up trying to become mini-moguls at our own little studios, and have all re-invented ourselves repeatedly by the time we turned 30. I this regard, The Royal Nonesuch is a scary and tremendously uncomfortable read.
Phillips' efforts appear very much in tune with today's young mavericks carving out their share of an audience on YouTube and BlipTV. His guerilla approach to both business and content creation should be a blueprint for any young filmmaker getting out of school today and should probably be taught at the appropriate departments and become required reading material.
Here's a book trailer by the man himself with highlights from a decade of defiance.
Mike Shields in Mediaweek reports about the first bona-fide hit on Sony's fledgling broadband network "Crackle". Apparently The Jace Hall Show racked up 500,000 plus viewers within only a few days since its launch in June.
"The new series, the latest in a string of originals which have either launched or are scheduled to premiere on the fledgling Crackle.com, appears to be right in most young tech savvy males’ wheelhouse.
Uber-producer Hall, who’s worked on projects ranging from the third Harry Potter film to World of Warcraft, uses the talk forum to indulge viewers’ love of entertainment, particularly gaming, while also showcasing Jackass-like high jinks such as indoor skydiving.
Hall also features celebrity interviews with the likes of That ‘70s show veteran Wilmer Valderrama and Chuck star Zachary Levi."
Here a clip from the very well produced segment co-starring Zach Levi.
From Crackle:
Another example of how YouTube owns this election: On their YouChoose '08 initiative comedy gems and informative bits and pieces from voters like you and me co-exist in harmony with complete archives of campaign spots from the various camps. Refreshing.
The maverick comedy team of Public Service Administration recently added a particularly delightful episode: "He said it first" spoofs a breaking news story about presidential candidate John McCain from the pov of the newsroom. Here's the bleeped version just in case.
My favorite genre: The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News ran fake ads last weekend for Derrie-Air, introducing a new concept of ticket prices for air travel: Pack Less. Weigh Less. Pay Less.
I'm particularly drawn to the politically correct carbon-neutral lingo mixed in with the carefree assault against our heavier fellow travelers.
'Welcome to Derrie-Air, the world's only carbon-neutral luxury airline, where you don't have to choose between living the high life and saving the planet.
The magic comes from our one of a kind "Sliding Scale"—the more you weigh, the more you'll pay. After all, it takes more fuel—more energy—to get more weight from point A to point B. '
Fabulous work: I can hear the copy editors laughing all through the weekend, apparently even the paper's disclaimer didn't save some innocent Sunday morning readers from confusion.
Here's the story in Editor & Publisher by Joe Strupp.
E&P's follow-up if you like to follow the story and its flaring debate about the campaign's ethics ...
My friend Erin Gates produced this hilarious movie directed by Jody Hill and starring Danny McBride as Fred Simmons, the King of the Taek Won Do Demo (?!).
It's being endorsed by the pantheon of American comedy: Will Ferrel (whose company helped distribute it), Ben Stiller, Seth Rogen... Go see!!
They created some terrific virals for FunnyorDie, also co-founded by Will Ferrel.
Need to say more?
What’s the matter with television networks in the broadband space?
Even the storytelling masters at HBO can’t seem to get a popular portal off the ground?
Steven Zeitchik in Variety.com about the site's departure: HBO comedy site shut down.
This Just In, the comedy site HBO envisioned as both a brand extension and a potential development pipeline, is being shut down just six months after launching.
HBO announced the site in late 2006 to much fanfare, saying it would allow advertisers to work with the company and also serve as a breeding ground for new talent. Former Icebox CEO Steve Sanford was brought in to run the site, which offered a mix of celebrity riffs and goofy videos from assorted standup comics.
Here’s how the cabler plans to play it safe instead: Back to the proven distribution models.
HBO has been developing a broadband site together with cable operators that will allow users to access on-demand programming via the Web.
Ever wondered what’s going on during the commercial break on your favorite local news show? Do anchors, commentators and production staff really get along? More importantly: What happens when the cameras stop rolling?
Good Night Burbank is your answer. Created by and starring veteran TV producer / writer Hayden Black as an online comedy format, the low budget stage of this fictitious news show is skillfully populated by various talented Second City and Groundlings alumni. Shulie Cowen is particularly effective as co-anchor Kelly Jones, pronounced in the traditional ‘Latino’ manner.
With undercurrents of Ricky Gervais' light touch for unbearably embarrassing moments, it's not surprising that the show is written with quite some bite. GNB goes far beyond portraying local news in its race for total urgency and absolute political correctness. Topics range from inter-office relationships, to racism and pornography, real-life stuff that’s funny and absolutely not covered on local news.
The tone is credible and entertaining, looks like Hayden spent the odd hour in control rooms here and there, studying the various business anchors are capable of conducting three, two, one and half-a-second before being back on camera without ever breaking into a sweat.
As far as fake news go, Good Night Burbank is an instant classic. Would be wonderful to see this show find the means of production to air as a daily online alternative to the Daily Show, like the latter it’s already spawned its own spin-off: Good Night Burbank – Breaking News.
Also listed on GoGOOROO.
Here's a wonderfully irreverent collection of quirky videos, sprung from the dead-beat minds of LA's latest online comedy collective.
Almost Mediocre Comedy is more than ready for Revver and YouTube fame: Their biggest accomplishment so far is a clever piece of Hollywood Americana, a mini-series of 5 episodes with definite cult potential: The Quest of Super Cool LA Guy.
Intro'd by a hilarious jingle featuring a male falsetto voice that couldn't be more un-super-cool, the series delivers surprisingly high production value on an obviously shoestring budget, boasts very good editing and dead-on comedic timing. It's different and it's very funny.
Luke Gannon, the super-cool guy at the center of the shorts taking every slacker's dream version of Hollywood by storm, most certainly deserves to be discovered asap.
SCLAG is also archived on GoGooroo.
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